ON THIS DAY in 1886 Statue of Liberty is dedicated by President Grover Cleveland, celebrated with the first confetti (ticker tape) parade in New York City.
The historic Buckminster Fuller Dome Home is home of the Dome Glow with Halloween activities this weekend on Saturday & Sunday. Enjoy carved pumpkins, old movies, a fire, candy, and the glowing Dome itself. Inspired by the late SIU architecture professor Jon Davey and his tradition of challenging students to create remarkable architectural carvings, Dome Glow celebrates pumpkins that go well beyond the traditional jack-o’-lantern. Free and open to the public. Any donations will help support the Fuller Dome Home. It’s part of Carbondale Halloween festivities. Other activities on Saturday include a safe trick or treat at Murdale Shopping Center from 10am to 2pm, a Howl O Ween event for you and your pup at the Carbondale Dog Park from 10am to 1pm and city wide trick or treating from 5 to 8pm. Find all the details at www.carbondalehalloween.com
Grave Dowsing with Brian Bailey Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, 2:00 pm (Previously scheduled for Oct. 30) At the Herrin City Cemetery 1320-1324 E Stotlar Street, Herrin, Illinois Brian Bailey is an Illinois licensed funeral director and embalmer. The ability to dowse is a natural rather than learned trait. Brian has utilized his experience in grave dowsing to assist several area families, as well as cemeteries, in locating unmarked gravesites. This information has also proven useful for genealogists and those researching family histories. Brian enjoys sharing his gift with others. Many are pleasantly surprised to find that they possess this skill also. Meet at the main Stotlar Street entrance to the cemetery near the flagpole. You are welcome to bring your own chair, though we will have a few extra chairs available. The event is presented by the Herrin History Room and is free and open to the public.
A reading of scary stories will take place on All Souls Day - Sunday November 1, 2 p.m. - at Confluence Books in Carbondale. Epiphany Ferrell will read some small-town folk horror, the setting of which will sound familiar. Jay Bower's latest novel is set in Cave-in-Rock. Fans of Jay Bower might need to be aware that this event will not include a seance. Sunset will be an hour earlier with the time change, but the readings will wrap up well before dark. Confluence Books is located at 705 West Main Street in Carbondale. Parking is available off Forest Avenue. For more information about Confluence Books or the book signing, contact confluencebooks@gmail.com or 618-525-3075. For more information about the authors, go to www.epiphanyferrell.com and www.jay-bower.com